News Archive: 2004

16 December 2004
Defra has published a report looking at climate change and Africa
The report produced jointly with Dfid and focussing on the impact of climate change on development and poverty in Africa is available on the Defra website here.

16 December 2004
ODPM has published a companion guide to PPS22
Details of the guidance to help planners implement PPS22 are available on the ODPM website here.

08 December 2004
Defra has published a consultation paper as part of its review of the Climate Change Programme
More details are given in the Defra press release available here.

08 December 2004
Defra has published its five year strategy with the focus on energy efficiency
Details of Defra's new five year strategy are available from their website here.

06 December 2004
COP 10 begins in Buenos Aires
The 10th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opened today in Buenos Aires. To follow the events visit the UNFCCC official web-site here.

02 Decemeber 2004
Chancellor announces Energy Efficiency Innovation Review
As part of his annual Pre-Budget Report , the Chancellor Gordon Brown announced the establishment of an Energy Efficiency Review and a Research and Development fund to accelerate energy efficiency technology. Further details of the announcements are available on the HM Treasury website here.

11 November 2004
Dti publish Updated Energy Projections
The Dti have published their latest Working Paper on the Updated Energy Projections that inform the development of the UK National Alloction Plan. More details are available from the Dti website here.

11 November 2004
Defra publish more details on UK NAP
Defra have published several consultation documents relating to the development of the UK National Alloction Plan. More details are available from the Defra website here.

9 November 2004
Defra publish timeline for final UK NAP decision
Defra have published details of the timeline leading up to the final decision on the UK National Allocation Plan as part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. More details are available from the Defra website here.

5 November 2004
President Putin signs law to ratify Kyoto Protocol
A number of sources are reporting that Presiden Putin has signed the law that ratifies the Kyoto Protocol. This means that the Protocol will come into force in early February 2005.

4 November 2004
Government publish final plans for review of the Renewables Obligation
Energy Minister Mike O'Brien has published the final Terms of Reference for next years review of the Renewables Obligation. More details are available on the DTI website here.

3 November 2004
Margaret Beckett speaks at UK-German climate change conference
Today Margaret Beckett delivered a key key note speech at the UK-German climate change conference in Berlin. The full text of the speech and more details about the conference are available on the DEFRA website here.

27 October 2004
UK announces plans on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
Today DEFRA announced its latest proposals for the allocation of greenhouse gas emission allowances to UK industry.
More details are available from the DEFRA website here.
The DTI have also published more details on the Updated Energy Projections. More details are available from the DTI website here.

11 August 2004
Environmental Audit Committee report ‘Budget 2004 and Energy’ published
The report, published today, is a quite damning critique of elements of the Government's climate change policy, in particular transport and domestic energy efficiency.
The EAC Press Release can be found here.
The full report can be found here.

9 August 2004
New planning guidance for renewable energy published
The ODPM today published 'Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy' (PPS22). This replaces the previous Planing Policy Guidance Note 22 (PPG22) issued in 1993. The UKBCSE believes this is a much improved document and provides more positive support for the development of renewables. The UKBCSE is however concerned that it makes no reference to the need for the planning system to be able to deal with proposals to develop the necessary infrastructure, including power lines, that will accompany many renewable energy developments.
The ODPM Press Release can be found here.
The full PPS22 document can be found here.

6 August 2004
Carbon Abatement Technology Strategy – Consultation Document
DTI are seeking views on the development of a Carbon Abatement Technology Strategy. More details are available here.

29 July 04
Latest energy statistics published
The DTI has published the lastest version of DUKES (Digest of UK Energy Statisitics). More details are available here.

27 July 2004
Government moves ahead with developing new code for sustainable buildings
Following publication of the Sustainable Buildings Task Group Report, the Government has committed to developing a Code for Sustainable Buildings. A project group is to be set up and the code is expected to be completed by the end of 2005. Further details are available here.

22 July 2004
The Energy Bill has received Royal Assent
Read more here.

23 June 2004
Energy Regulator should have sustainable development duty, says think tank
The energy regulator, Ofgem, should have a duty to take account of sustainable development, according to a new report, published by the think tank, Sustainability First and written by Gill Owen.
Read the Press Release here (word doc 39Kb)
Read the full report here (pdf 985Kb)

20 June 2004
Bonn Renewables Conference
UKBCSE report on this major international renewables conference hosted by the German Government in Bonn.
Read the report here (pdf 84Kb)

Pilot Energy Action Areas
Four areas of London are to become groundbreaking pilot Energy Action Areas using renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and wind turbines to provide energy23 March 2004

UKBCSE National Conference 2004 The Energy White Paper: A year on!
The UKBCSE Annual Conference was addressed by Stephen Timms and included a panel session with the Chief Executives of 6 of the UK’s largest energy companies.
See the programme and presentations here.

21 January 2004
Berlin Renewables Conference 19-21 January
A preparatory meeting to the conference being hosted by the German Government in Bonn in June 2004. The UKBCSE is working with our EU, US and Australian colleagues to develop input into the conference.
Read a short report on the outcomes of the Berlin conference and more about the Bonn conference here.

19 January 2004
UK National Allocation Plan published
The UK has published, for consultation, a draft of its National Allocation Plan (NAP) for the first phase of the EU Emission Trading Scheme. It is based on a reduction target of a 16.3% cut in CO2 emissions by 2010 (from 1990). The government also announced its intention to set the cap for the 2nd phase (starting in 2008) consistent with reaching a 20% cut in CO2 emissions by 2010.
For more information see the Defra website.